Gripping device for tractor-wheels.



D. S. & A. STEWART.

GRiPPlNG DEVICE FOR TRACTOR WHEELS.

APPLlCATlON FILED JULY 24,196.

l ,%2,fi. Emma July 10, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

D. S. & A. STEWART.

GRIPPINC DEVICE FOR TRACTOR WHEELS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 24.1916.

1,28%,8560 Patented July 10, 1917.

' 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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DAVID s. srnwartr, or 'anrieo, Ann ALEXANDER STEWART, orciinv'roivvrrtn,

. WISCONSIN.

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Specification of Letters Patent.

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Application filed July 24, 191'6. Serra liv d. 110l8'84.

To all whom itmay concern.

Be it known that we, DAVI S. STEWART and ALEXANDER STEWART, bothcitizens of the United States, and residents of An'tigo, in the countyof Langlade and State of Wisconsin, and of Clintonville, in the countyof lVaupa-ca and State of l/Visconsin, respectively, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Gripping Devices forTractor-VVheels; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full,clear, and exact description thereof.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in grippingdevices for wheels and is more particularly directed to the provision ofa device adapted to be used in connection with types of wheels havingtransversely fiat tread 'portionssuch as are found on most types oftractors.

Flat-tread tractor wheels are usually provided with transverse ribs orcalks to procure a gripping engagement with the ground and inasmuch asthese ribs or calks are rigidly attached, accumulations of mud or othermatter accumulate and pack about the ribs or calks to such an extent asto effectively lessen their gripping function.

To overcome this disadvantage it is the object of the present inventionto provide a gripping means which may be secured on the tread of a wheelin a loose manner so as to have longitudinal sliding movement .on thewheel whereby upon propulsion oi the vehicle the device will be moved orwill creep on the tread of the wheel to dislodge mud or ice or othermatter which might be come associated therewith, wherehy clogging of thegripping means to possibly pre vent its eflicient operation isprevented.

It is further an object to provide a gripping means of this nature whichis of an exceedingly simple structure and which may be readily attachedto or detached from a wheel.

A still further object is to provide such a gripping means havingcertain of its parts relatively adjustable whereby the gripping meansmay be associated with the wheel in a manner whereby a variation ofnumbers and arrangement of gripping elements may be procured to thusadapt the gripping means for use under differing conditions.

With the above and other objects and advantages in view, the inventionresides more particularly in the novel combination, ar-

rangementand formation of parts more particularly hereinafter describedand more shoiving another rorm'orthe improved gripping device wherein avariation of the ar i-arn'genent of the gripping elements upon the wheeltread may be procured.

Fig. l is a transverse sectional view on the line i i of Fig. 3. i

Fig. 5 is a plan ,view showing another form of our improved grippingdevice, with parts breken away 'to illustrate the details ofconstruction more clearly.

Referring now more particularly to Figs. land 2 of the accompanyingdrawings, 5 designates the tread portion of a tractor or similar wheelwherein the tread portion is transversely hat and is provided with sideedge portions which may slic ably engage with a hook member formingpartoi the present structure. The improved gripping device comprisesaseriesof U-shaped p ates 6 the arms of which. are spaced apart adistancegreaterthah the width of the tread rim of the wheel and theseplates are each provided the free end of one arm with a pair of openings7 which are engaged the end links of chain 'sections 8, the U- s'hapedplates comprising substantially hooks carried by the chain sectionswhereby the structure may be described as 'comprising a flexible memberhaving oppositely disposed hook portlons at spaced intervals.

Figs. 3 and i illustrate a somewhat differ ent form of the inventionwherein a single chain is utilized and wherein the hook members aredetachably engageable with the chain to thus provide for adjustment ofthe relation of the elements when disposed on a wheel.

In this structure Ll-shaped hook plates 6 similar to the plates 6, areprovided and one side of each plate is provided with a longitudinallyelongated button 9, having its shank disposed at the free end of thesideof the plate. Associated with these hook members is a chaincomprising alternate cir- 7 chain and upon hooking the plates at thesides of the tread, their detachment is prevented.

In applying either form of the device, it is placed on a wheel with thehook plates 6 or 6 engaging respective side edges of the tread instaggered relation, as shown, the length of the device being sufficientto extend about the periphery of the wheel and the device is secured inplace by connecting end chain sections in any desired manner andinasmuch as any connecting means may be employed with the presentinvention, no specific means is shown for that purpose. The device isthus-secured on the wheel so that it may slide or creep thereabout, andthus in propulsion of the wheel, the device moves or creeps thereon andthis creeping movement serves to free the chain sections and hooksfromthe lodgment of mud or snow or other matter which would tend to clogthe same and impair their gripping efiiciency.

Reverting now to the structure of Figs. 3 and 4 it is noted thatinasmuch as the hook plates 6 may be selectively engaged with desiredlinks 10, a variation of the angles, at which the strips of chainbetween the hook members extend with respect to the tread may beprocured, and consequently a variation of the amount or the length ofchain and of the number of hook members provided on the wheel may bevaried, to provide a variation of the gripping action exerted by thepresent device to meet difi'ering conditions. Also in connection withthis structure it is noted that the heads of the button 9 project toform additional calk members.

An exceedingly simple device has thus its creeping movement. shoe alsoserves to incase the master link 10 5, the U-shaped hook-plate 6 isprovided with a head having a rear overhang 9 and a forwardly anddownwardly extended foot 12, which foot is adapted to have slidingcontact with the surface of the wheel rim and thus prevent the hook fromcramping in Furthermore, this whereby it is impossible to cause the sameto become disconnected.

We claim:

1. The combination with a wheel rim of a plurality of securing membersfreely slidable along opposite edges of the rim, a chain laced backwardand forward from the securing means on one side to the opposite side 1and around the periphery of the wheel, and

means for adjusta'bly securing the chain to the securing means wherebythe length of stretches of chain between the adjacent securing means maybe varied .to thus vary the circumferential distance between thesecuring means.

2. The combination with a wheel rim of a plurality of U -shaped hooksadapted to loosely embrace the opposite edges of the rim and slidabletherealong, buttons on the ends of the outer legs of the hooks includinghead portions extending inwardly of the hooks with respect to the rimand a chain for connecting said hooks having links adapted to engageonsaid buttons upon insertion of the body of the hooks therethroughwhereby when said hooks are disposed on the rim said chain is held frompossible'displacement from the buttons.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing we have hereunto set our handsat Clintonville, in the county of Waupaca and State of Wisconsin, in thepresence of two witnesses.

' D. S. STEWART.

ALEX STEWART. Witnesses: V

R. .T. DAvrsoN, A. W. SCHMIEDEKE.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe "Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. r

